Project outcomes

Achievements

Reduce the long-term cost of electricity supply to the three countries.

Achieved, but depends upon the future generation mix between new hydropower facilities and thermal power plants.

Meet debt service associated with the construction of Manantali dam.

Achieved, but long term sustainability at risk depending on the financial viability of public utilities.

Increase the efficiency and reliability of the power systems in the three countries.

Achieved. Manantali significantly contributed to power generation capacity of the three countries, but serious electricity production deficits persist due to an increasing demand.

Establish an effective organization to construct and operate the project facilities and to mitigate environment and health impacts of the Manantali dam.

Partially achieved through the establishment of SOGEM and rolling out of OMVS mitigation programmes. However, most problems related to the increase of water-borne diseases are still to be addressed.

Promote competitive private sector participation in project operation and in financing of future generation projects in the Senegal River Basin.

Partially achieved through involvement of ESKOM. However, private sector participation in financing of future power generation projects is deemed difficult because of the lack of experienced and truly independent national regulatory authorities coupled with the small size and fragmentation of the regional energy market.

Support the traditional agricultural sector downstream through rational management of Manantali reservoir.

Partially achieved. The Water Charter addresses the issue of efficient allocation of water amongst different purposes including agriculture. OMVS reported that releases were adequate to support irrigated agriculture in a period of normal rain fall. However, local administrators along the River Senegal irrigated areas complained that flood releases were insufficient to support recessional agriculture.